foxes and hedgehogs

A couple of days ago, our agency sent out an email telling us that our agency rep was out for a week due to a death in the family. The next day I called just to make sure that if the referral was approved by the IAD during her absence that we would be told about it by someone. They told me that were just about to call us to let us know that they believe that the match has been approved by the IAD but that the provence hadn't given them any information on the baby. Ugh!

They think they will have the information next week (they're closed Monday and Tuesday). And then they also want us to get our visas because there is a chance that travel could happen sooner that the 2-3 month time frame they gave us. They are waiting for some further information and will know more next week. !? Good grief. It's all encouraging and great, but some solid definitives would be so lovely right now. But I guess I'll take this little morsel they've given us for now and just find a way to have even more patience.

We went to Las Vegas over the weekend with some friends of ours and had an absolute blast -- tons of people watching, eating, shopping, walking, partying, and dancing. I was completely exhausted by the end of it mainly from being sleep deprived. It started making me realize that I don't do to well on less than 6 hours sleep. And then it occurred to me. Uh, yikes, That's what all those new parents have been complaining about all these years.

But really, sleep deprivation is ridiculous for me to worry about right now when I STILL DON'T EVEN HAVE A REFERRAL YET. It's starting to make me crazy. At least it wasn't the first thing I thought about when I woke up this morning.

Got an email from our agency yesterday. The government in the provence where our baby is living has sent all our baby's paper work to Hanoi for the central government's (IAD) approval. Once the IAD approves, we get our referral.

It's so crazy good!

Talked with adoption agency coordinator yesterday and she said it would be safe for me to assume that the referral probably won't come for a couple of weeks or more. Man it really smacked to hear that news. I started to feel myself sink into a pit of depression and this morning I found myself almost immobile. But luckily my sister called and got all drill sergeant on my ass just in time to shake me out of it. She reminded me that I have a lot to do before the baby comes and that I need to get cracking. She made me make a to-do list and told me that she is going to call tomorrow to check the progress.

Thank god for sisters! I really needed someone to do that for me.

Sometimes it's hard to imagine that a baby is really coming into our lives. It almost feels like I'm making this all up or that it could all fall through the cracks. But I have to have faith that this *is* happening and that our baby *is* going to be home with us soon. It's not like I have a growing belly as a reminder. But it is true -- I do need to get going with getting her room ready and buying a stroller etc.

Hey! So I'm catching on to this kitchen remodel obsession real well now. I've got a custom cabinet guy coming over tomorrow am to look and see what he can do to fix up my kitchen without ripping it apart and starting from scratch.
Here's some more photo's of stuff I like just to throw it out there for the heck of it.

I'm really, really, REALLY hoping that the referral comes this week. I was doing so well waiting the last two weeks, but today I woke up and my ability to distract myself had vanished. I am officially starting to get impatient and who knows how long this wait can and will take.

I guess I'm going to have to try and continue to distract myself. So back onto the subject of the kitchen remodel. DH and I decided that we might not want to do a huge remodel now because we are planning on moving in a couple years. Also, we don't think we will really have the time to get it done before we go to Vietnam. Also, also we don't really know if it's worth all the stress. So over the weekend we decided on just doing a cosmetic redo by adding a farmhouse sink like the one in the photo and other details. I've contacted a couple cabinet makers who might be able to help with that. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

I've been a very bad blogger lately, BUT I have a good excuse! I was in England attending the wedding
of my husband's cousin and visiting family like crazy. Not to mention, drinking like crazy too. Tea and beer and
wine and tea and champagne and tea and beer and tea and how about some whiskey to help that cold you
have? Oh my liver.

Anyhow, the wedding and the family were absolutely fabulous. England is such a funny little country. I
absolutely love it despite the fact that the weather was FREEZING and I got a horrible cold and was jet
lagged beyond belief. I still absolutely loved it and had such a fab time.

referral news: any day now ... !!!! I can hardly stand it. Thank god I had the trip to distract me and now
the kitchen remodel. I've been told that our agency knows of some children that are available, but that their
medical and legal paper work at the provincial level hasn't been completed yet. But any day now!!!!